Ad for ASP Comics in February's Diamond Previews

Mark put together this ad for Diamond Previews that will solicit Robotika #3 and Mouse Guard #2. I loved how he worked in the vertical title and the credits for me and Joel.

Review (V)

Got another very thorough review at:

ComicCritique

I am loving the fact that some folks really take their time to read the book and think about it. This is exactly why I did it in the first place!!

Too Awesome

Alex Ness was kind enough to include Robotika in his "wrap-up" for 2005. I think that is pretty awesome:

PopThought

Another awesome news is that Ryan's "X-Factor" #1 is sold out and is going in for a second printing! I read the issue a few weeks back and I thought that the story and the art were right on...the cover alone is "to die for"!

Review (IV)

Today I got a link to another new review of the first issue:

Jazma

Yesterday I started inking a drawing and was reminded that if I don't ink for a few weeks I "loose" it. I am trying to create an econimic line with certain vigor to it...hard to do when my skills are reduced to a baby level.

Reviews (III)

Three more reviews:

Comics Should Be Good

and here is another:

Randomville

Steven Grant reviews:

PermanentDamage#222

This is an earlier review of Robotika photocopies that I sent it before the book was colored/published. It is pretty much the same as the full review in #222, but I wanted to put this one up to have a complete listing of all the articles:

PermanentDamage#215

Reviews (II) and a drawing

I just read a two very nice reviews for the first issue. Here is one:

Ichiban

and here is another:

PopImage

I also just finished another idea for a Robotika drawing. I am trying to capture all the elements of the storyline in one illustration.

Reviews

Here are two reviews of the first issue:

Broken Frontier

Pop Thought

These are very kind reviews, I hope they will inspire some folks to give the book a look.

Vertical Text

After the release of the first issue I have recieved a letter from someone who purchased Robotika and after reading it decided to write in and share his impression of the issue. It was a very articulate letter that contained some very kind words about the art work, storytelling, and story ideas...but one thing stood out as a "sore thumb": Cherokee Geisha's vertical text. In his opinion, the text slowed down the reading experience and made him leave the story.

I was thrilled to get the letter. It was awesome to hear from someone who read the book and felt inspired to write about it. That was very much appreciated. The vertical text is an interesting point and I wanted to say a few words about it.

English is my second language and I still remember the experience of trying to communicate with someone and how frustrating it was when I could not. I also remember how rewarding it was when finally I started "getting it", a whole new world opened up for me. Since than I have developed a huge appreciation of English (and it's American "cousin") as a beautiful language.

With Cherokee Geisha I wanted to create a character that other characters either could or could not understand (but somehow the reader would always be
able to understand). I wanted the reader to realize that they are taking a very wonderful thing, English language and ability to communicate, for granted. "Yes", I did want the reader to work hard. "Yes", I did want the reader to have to "re-learn" how to read...because I wanted them to feel achievement at the end of that experience and an appreciation for something that they usually take for granted.

This was my first opportunity to verbalize my thoughts about the matter (other than talking to friends or to Mark about it), and I hope readers will understand what I am trying to do.

Interview(s) Part III

There is a new interview and a preview for Robotika #2 at Broken Frontier:

Broken Frontier

This was one the first time "in print" that I was able to thank Barbara, Leif, and Ryan for all the support and care that they have given me and Robotika.

Robotika#1

Robotika #1 went on sale last week on the East coast and this week it will be on sale through out the rest of the country. I just got the promotional copies that I need to sign (and get Ryan, who contributed the cover to issue #1, to co-sign)...it is pretty cool to see the book printed...in fact it is pretty amazing.

Interview(s) Part II

There are two more interviews up about Robotika. One at ComicReaders.com:

ComicReaders.com

and another one at Jazma:

Jazma

There is also a write-up based on some questions that I answered at Comicon.com:

Comicon

Also the second issue of Robotika (!) is solicited through Diamond Previews this month. Robotika #2 got a "Certified Cool" sticker with a half-page color ad and a write-up on page 222.

The same Previews issue is also soliciting another new title by Archaia Studios Press, "Mouse Guard" #1 by David Peterson. "Mouse Guard" got a Featured Item description on page 205, a two page interview with David on pages 220-221, and a write-up on page 223. The book looks beautiful and I can't wait to read it.

It's not always all about drawing...

Lots of things got done over the weekend. First the fireplace is finaly done!
Before:

After:

And I got to work on a ChainGang putting up a retaining wall for Frank's driveway.
Here we all are (except Miss Lela, who is taking the photo):

Sketches/Ideas

Cover to issue #3

My color guide to Joel for issue #3 cover.



This image was inspired by the image on my DVD cover of "Seven Samurai". The DVD image was just a group shot of the samurai looking into the distance. When I was sketching ideas for the issue #3 cover, I kept coming back to "group" shot...I have never done anything like this before, so this was an experiment.

Interview(s)

Two interviews are up for promoting Robotika. One at Newsrama:

Newsarama

and another one at PopThought:

PopThought

I am working on two more and having a lot of fun verbalizing thoughts that have been in my head for a while...but I am always afraid that folks will think that I am taking myself too seriously (am I?)

Back to work.

Many faces of...

Issue #3, page #15, panel #3

When I was penciling, I wanted the female character to look at Niko in a sort of a tender way. I liked the face, but there was something wrong with the shape of her head...and the neck looked way too thick. I figured I would fix it with ink.



By the time I got to the inking stage, I finished scripting the whole issue and I wanted to change the tender concern expression to more of a "what the heck is going on..?" expression and of course fix the tilt of the head and the neck.




In a way I still very much like the penciled face...I hope to be able to use it sometime later on in the story.

Hanging out with my heroes.

Fantastic Frank Cirocco making what will go down in history as the best rib BBQ dinner...ever!


From left to right: Fabulous Frank Cirocco, Luscious Lela Dowling, and Bodacious Barbara Barni somewhere in the woods.
One of the highlites of the evening was seeing the almost completed layouts for Lela's artbook. The range of illustrations is awesome and I can't wait for the book to come out. My favorite section was the ABC chapter with individual color illustrations and clever one liners for every letter. Great stuff.


Rapturous Ryan Sook and the original NIKO THE SAMURAI!
We spent the evening eating, laughing, and talking about the good things in life. Also I got to look at Ryan's originals...he has such elegance with storytelling and drawing. It feels like I just brute force my way through drawings, but Ryan always figures out a new way of depicting scenes...and he draws so well. Very inspirational, I can't wait to start drawing again!

Double Page Technology Spread

Pencils from the first issue featuring the technology in Robotika. I used markers in the final version to add gray tones.

Moment of truth

Robotika is listed in the new Diamond Previews...page 227 order number OCT052776...wow, just like downtown!

Tender Moment

I have been inking pages for the last two months. I finished inking the second issue and inked the first half of the third issue. Yesterday, I ran out of pages to ink...so it is back to penciling. I feel "rusty" and it took me almost an hour to warm up before I could even start on a page. I guess that is the trouble with doing everything by myself. If I spend some real time doing the lettering, by the time I feel good about it I forget how to ink...if I spend a few weeks inking...I forget how to pencil. It is a never ending struggle.

October Diamond Previews

Ad designed by Mark Smylie

Pencils for cover #2

Tough guys from Issue#3

Letter balloons

This is something that I am starting to play with.

Issue #2 cover ideas

Title logo...by accident

This is the title page to a 2-page-spread introducing the technology that make the world of Robotika possible. I wanted to have "The World of" in cursive script form to contrast with "Robotika", but by accident I ended-up with this, which I kind of like because it is readable, but at the same time very different.

When too subtile becomes...obscure.

This is something that I was very proud of at one time. In issue #2 a CEO of a company tries to explain to Niko how beneficial his company is to the country...later on in the same issue The Queen explains to Niko how beneficial her reign is to the (same) country. In both cases it is just propaganda (even though different words are used) and I wanted to make a connection between the two speeches. I tried to do it by giving the same gestures to the characters. I just inked The Queen's monologue and as I was finishing it up I realized that no one will make that connection. Bummer.

Another fix

This was another area I fixed as I started inking. Both Brian A. and Ryan S. gave me suggestions that resulted in this final version. My problem with the penciled drawing was that Niko's sword intersected The Queen's hand at an odd angle, almost blurring the foreground into the background. I believe this is a much easier picture to look at.

Awkward

This figure always bothered me. It looked very unnatural and awkward. As I started finishing the last few pages of issue #2 I tried to fix it with ink. The final version, while still a bit odd around the hand, I think looks much better.

Color Samples

Presented above are 3 samples of various pages colored by Joel Chua. I was very impressed by his color selections...especially since he worked without any color notes/guides. Mark was also very impressed. I believe Joel will be a great asset to the team and I can't wait to see the first colored issue.

Back cover

Inked characters

Goodman Games

Latest 1/4 character sketches for Goodman Games.

San Diego, July 14-15

It is now official. "Robotika" will be a 4 issue series published in color by Archaia Studios Press. First issue will be released in December of 2005 and will feature a beautiful cover by Ryan Sook.

I got to met and talk to Brian Apthorp which was great. His work on Batman and Poison Ivy is something that I still refer to regularly. I also got a chance to talk to David Mack (who was very cool and "traded" me some Kabuki comics for the ashcan!), Brandon Peterson (who recognized my work from White Wolf), and Mark Schultz (who was way too nice and signed a copy of his sketchbook for me).

Mark Smylie (publisher and writer/artist of "Artesia") and I got a chance to talk about schedule, production, and color. So far everything looks good and I feel very fortunate to have found such a cool connection.